Poll finds voters support tax breaks for job creators

Tools

San Franciscans are growing more confident about The City’s economy and support tax breaks for companies that create jobs, according to a new poll released by the Chamber of Commerce today.

Overall, nearly 60 percent of people said San Francisco is “going in the right direction,” compared with only 44 percent who perceived forward progress in 2011 and just 29 percent who felt that way in 2010. And while 45 percent of residents still feel the economy is getting worse, 26 percent say it’s getting better — more than double the number of people who responded positively in 2011.

Chamber of Commerce President Steve Falk said job creation remains at the forefront of economic needs, and residents support new taxes only if they include an incentive to provide more work opportunities. While tax breaks for job creators were favored by more than 60 percent of respondents, no consumer taxes covered by the poll received a majority of support.

The sentiment comes on the heels of the so-called “Twitter tax break” that eliminated payroll taxes in The City’s Mid Market area last year to entice the growing microblogging company to stay in town.

“The City is going to get back 20 times more in revenue that they would have in payroll tax,” Falk said. “We have to get smart about economic growth as a way to raise revenue, not taxes.”

Other problems remain, however, including the state of public schools and homelessness. Along with jobs, those issues topped the list of major problems facing The City. Panhandling was respondents’ top concern.

“In a city where we depend on visitors and the impression we give to visitors, homelessness is not just a nagging issue, it’s an economic issue,” Falk said.

Mayor Ed Lee received a 68 percent favorable rating, compared to 16 percent who don’t care for the newly elected municipal chief. In 2011, Lee received 56 percent support, with only 3 percent viewing him unfavorably.

The poll, released this morning for the chamber’s annual CityBeat Breakfast, was conducted earlier this month with input from 500 San Francisco voters.